Will Impeachment Lead to Civil War?

     Will impeachment of the President lead to civil war, as some assert? Not from what I’ve observed as I’ve lived through two previous impeachment proceedings in our nation’s history. When I was a congressional intern in Washington, D.C., I sensed something creepy swirling through the corridors of power in the White House. An air of arrogance, secrecy. Only through an impeachment inquiry did we realize the extent of the abuse of power. Richard Nixon resigned, and as a nation, we pushed a reset button as our government sought to cleanse itself of corruption. And life went on. 
      Then when I was a mother patching knees on jeans, impeachment charges came against Bill Clinton. His presidency survived, but the process revealed his lying. Reset button again, and life went on.     
     Now as I chauffeur grandkids around, I listen to reports about Donald Trump. Once again I’m grateful for the instrument in our Constitution’s toolbox of checks and balances that calls for inquiry, yet at the same time makes it difficult to remove a president from office. Without such a tool, the fever of executive power can burn unabated. Government conducted in the shadows can grow, and what is illegal can become the norm.     
     Historian John Dalberg-Acton observed, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” With unchecked power, the temptation toward corruption is great. So let’s honor the wisdom of our forefathers. For the protection of our nation, let’s embrace this inquiry into whether impeachable events have occurred.     
     We’ll learn if it’s time for another reset.     
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     Photo of me as an intern with U.S. Congressman Mark Andrews.